DJI Unveils ‘Osmo’ Action Camera, Sights Set on GoPro Market

It looks like a GoPro — until you notice the small color screen near the lens on the front of the camera.

Today, drone-maker DJI punts into a new market, and its main competitor is the very camera brand that established the industry standard and the form factor: GoPro.

DJI Osmo Action Camera has screens on front and back

DJI is the world’s leader in consumer drones. Because of this, the company has spent years perfecting its cameras and accompanying image-stabilization technology.

The DJI Osmo Action Camera grabs from both those areas. New today, the rugged 4K camera has state-of-the-art electronic image stabilization as well as the unique add-on of both rear and front color screens.

Dual Screens on DJI Action Camera

Why two screens? The unique design “allows for more convenient scene composition while on the move,” the company says.

The front 1.4-inch color screen “makes vlogging and selfies easier than ever before,” according to DJI. You can aim the camera at yourself, frame up a shot on the front screen, and visually manage the production, always seeing what you film.

On the back, its 2.25-inch rear touchscreen — a traditional feature — was made for setting up shots and previewing captured imagery.

The screens have a brightness of 750 nits, which will make the Osmo Action usable in full daylight and other tough lighting conditions.

The DJI camera captures 4K video at up to 60fps (frames per second)

GoPro HERO vs. DJI Osmo

Like GoPro cameras, the Osmo Action is dustproof, shockproof, and waterproof. It can operate in sub-freezing temperatures. It has a similar look to the GoPro HERO7 and other models, with a stout, boxy shape and a lens offset to the side.

A nice upgrade from DJI, the camera turns on quickly. Touch the shutter button once and you can begin recording in under 2 seconds.

It has a three-glass aspherical lens, and DJI captures 4K video and 12-megapixel photos with its 1/2.3-inch image sensor. It records video at up to 60 fps (frames per second).

Its battery is removable and has a quoted runtime of about 90 minutes while recording at 4K/30fps. Dual microphones handle audio capture.

DJI Image Stabilization Is ‘RockSteady’

DJI calls its image stabilization technology “RockSteady.” The brand derived it from the software-corrected stabilization algorithms it built for its drones. Drones fly wildly, shaking in wind and banking at high speeds. To capture steady footage, software and hardware make the images appear stable.

For the handheld Osmo Action Camera, DJI added drone-worthy software stabilization that can capture movement in “smooth, stable, high-quality video, even when recording 4K/60fps,” the company states.

The Osmo Action is rugged and waterproof (here shown in a surfing scene)

Additional features on the DJI camera include requisite modes like slo-mo, timelapse, and custom exposure settings.

DJI includes imagery in its press kit of mountain bikers, surfers, and various other outdoor sports. The Osmo will sell with mounts available for surfboards, bikes, skateboards, and other action-sports implements. It has an industry-standard mounting setup on its base and should work with many existing mounts on the market as well.

DJI Osmo Action Price and Availability

Starting today, you can get the DJI Osmo Action for $349 at store.dji.com. In physical stores where DJI is distributed, the camera will be for sale by May 22.

GearJunkie will update this article or publish a review once we get the Osmo camera in hand. Until then, you can stay up to date and read more about the Osmo at dji.com/osmo-action.

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Stephen Regenold is Founder of GearJunkie, which he launched as a nationally-syndicated newspaper column in 2002. As a journalist and writer, Regenold has covered the outdoors industry for two decades, including as a correspondent for the New York Times. A father of five, Regenold and his wife live in Minneapolis.